Wat Phra Kaew and the Emerald Buddha at a glance
Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is the royal chapel of the Grand Palace in Bangkok. It stands inside the palace walls, and you reach it with the same ticket: the Grand Palace ticket of THB 500 covers the palace grounds, the temple and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles. Its formal name is Wat Phra Sri Rattanasasadaram.
No community of monks lives here. The chapel was built without monks' quarters, as part of the royal compound. The Emerald Buddha is the centre of the temple.
The statue: material, size and robes
What the figure is made of and why it looks different through the year.
Green stone, not emerald
The Buddha sits in meditation and is carved from green stone. Despite the name it is not made of the gem emerald. The material is usually called jasper or jade.
Palace facts →Small, on a high altar
The figure is about 66 cm tall and about 48 cm across the knees. It sits on its golden altar in the main hall.
Buildings of the palace →Three seasonal robes
The robes are changed three times a year, for the hot season, the rainy season and the cool season. The months are typically March, July and November, and the date follows the Thai calendar, so there is no fixed date for 2026. Visitors cannot count on watching it.
Check the calendar →The ceremony is a royal one. A change took place on 14 March 2025. Plan your visit around the opening hours, not around the robes.
Our picks: the Emerald Buddha with a guide
The private tour includes the palace entry; the two short tours include it only with the ticket option.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private palace and temples tour with hotel pickup
- Grand Palace entry
- Private guide
- Hotel transfer
Hotel pickup, a private guide and entry to the palace and the Emerald Buddha; Wat Pho and Wat Arun entry depends on the option.
Check availability →
Two-hour guided Grand Palace visit
- Guide
- Ticket by option
A guide through the palace and Wat Phra Kaew. The entry ticket and hotel pickup come only with those options.
Check availability →Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha walking tour
- English-speaking guide
- Coconut drink
- Entry by option
An English-speaking guide through the palace and Wat Phra Kaew with a coconut drink. Entry is included only with the ticket option.
Check availability →Wat Phra Kaew and Grand Palace tours
Guided visits that include Wat Phra Kaew and the palace, with live prices and availability. Check whether the palace entry fee is included.
Around the chapel: murals, guardians and spires
The temple is more than the Buddha. Galleries around the compound carry murals of the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Ramayana epic. The giant guardian figures at the gates come from the same story. The grounds also hold golden chedis, a library building, the Phra Mondop, and a terrace with a royal pantheon.
The murals run along the covered walkways. Take your time along the walkways, because the scenes follow one another around the compound. The guardians stand at the gates of the temple.
The throne halls of the palace sit next to the temple, and you can see more about them on the architecture page.
Rules inside the chapel
The Emerald Buddha is a living object of worship, and the rules are strict.
- Shoes: take them off before you enter the chapel. You do not need to go barefoot in the whole grounds.
- Clothing: cover your shoulders and wear long, loose trousers or a long skirt. Sleeveless tops, shorts, torn or tight trousers and miniskirts are not allowed.
- Photos: taking pictures of the Buddha inside the main hall is not allowed. Follow the signs and the staff on the day.
- Drones: not allowed over the grounds.
Be as quiet and respectful as you would be in any temple. Criticism of the monarchy is a crime in Thailand, so be careful with any comment about the royal family.
Fit the temple into your day
A simple order for the morning.
Start with the chapel
Go to Wat Phra Kaew first, while you still have energy, and then walk on to the courtyards and the throne halls. Ticket sales run until 15:30, so an early start gives you the longest day.
Opening hours →Bring the right clothes
You cannot enter the chapel in shorts or sleeveless tops. Sleeves, covered shoulders and long, loose trousers or a long skirt are the safe choice.
Dress code →Take an audio guide or a guide
The audio guide costs THB 200 and comes in 8 languages, including German. A guided visit explains the murals scene by scene.
Guided tours →Keep time for Wat Pho
The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho lies south of the palace. It needs a separate ticket of THB 300.
Palace and Wat Pho →Plan the rest of your visit
The temple is one stop in a longer morning.
Tickets and dress code
Prices, free entry rules and what to wear.
Opening hours
Daily times, last sales and ceremony days.
Palace and Wat Pho
Walk on to the Reclining Buddha. Separate ticket, THB 300.
The Reclining Buddha has its own guide at Wat Pho.
Emerald Buddha: frequently asked questions
Is the Emerald Buddha really made of emerald?
No. It is carved from green stone, usually called jasper or jade. The name stays, but the gem emerald is not the material.
How big is the Emerald Buddha?
About 66 cm tall and about 48 cm across the knees. It sits on its golden altar in the main hall.
When does the Emerald Buddha get new robes?
Three times a year, for the hot, rainy and cool seasons. The usual months are March, July and November. There is no fixed date for 2026, and visitors cannot count on seeing the ceremony.
Can I take photos of the Emerald Buddha?
Photography of the Buddha inside the main hall is not allowed. Follow the signs and the staff on the day.
Do I need a separate ticket for Wat Phra Kaew?
No. The Grand Palace ticket of THB 500 for foreign adults covers Wat Phra Kaew. Wat Pho and Wat Arun need their own tickets.
Do monks live at Wat Phra Kaew?
No. The temple was built as a royal chapel without monks' quarters, so no monastic community lives there.